Lakers hiring Lindsey Harding as assistant coach on JJ Redick's staff, per report

Sacramento Kings G League coach Lindsey Harding is joining the Los Angeles Lakers' coaching staff, ESPN reports, making her the first female full-time coach in the organization's storied history.

Harding will join J.J. Redick's staff after guiding the Stockton Kings to a regular-season best 24-10 record. She was named the 2023-24 G League Coach of the Year in her lone season in Stockton.

Harding and Redick have been connected for years since they both played basketball at Duke. Harding also was a player development coach with the Philadelphia 76ers when Redick played for the organization.

Harding was a star for the Blue Devils women's basketball team. She was named the 2007 Naismith National Player of the Year and is the career assist leader at Duke. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury, who traded Harding to the Minnesota Lynx in a draft day deal. She played nine seasons in the league, with stints with the Lynx, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty and Mercury.

She joined the coaching ranks after ending her WNBA career. After her time in Philadelphia, she became an assistant coach for the Kings in 2019. She was on the staff of the team that broke the NBA's longest playoff drought. 

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In April, Harding reportedly interviewed for the head coaching position for the Charlotte Hornets. The job was ultimately given to Boston Celtics assistant Charles Lee.